The Cascadia Poetry Festival is set to return to Seattle for its eighth iteration, bringing together a diverse array of poets, writers, and cultural workers from across the Cascadia bioregion. Scheduled for November 1-3, 2024, the festival promises to be a celebration of regional art, culture, and environmental consciousness.
Organized by the Seattle-based nonprofit Cascadia Poetics Lab, the event will feature writing workshops, panel discussions, and readings at various venues throughout the city, including the Richard Hugo House, Spring Street Center, Seattle University, and the Neukom Vivarium at the Olympic Sculpture Park. The festival's lineup boasts an impressive roster of participants, including renowned poets C.A. Conrad, Fred Wah, and Daphne Marlatt, among many others.
A highlight of this year's festival is the launch of 'Cascadia Zen: Bioregional Writings on Cascadia Here and Now, Volume II,' an anthology that explores the intersections of bioregionalism, poetics, and Zen philosophy. This publication, edited by Tetsuzen Jason Wirth, Paul E. Nelson, and Adelia MacWilliam, represents a continuation of the series that began with the successful release of Volume I at the previous year's festival.
The festival's focus on bioregionalism—an approach that emphasizes the importance of naturally defined areas rather than political boundaries—underscores the growing recognition of the Cascadia region's unique cultural and ecological identity. This perspective is particularly relevant in an era of increasing environmental awareness and the need for sustainable, locally-oriented practices.
One of the most significant aspects of the festival is the Floricanto Cascadia, a free event on Saturday afternoon at the Hugo House. This 'symphony of voices' will showcase Indigenous American poets, with a particular emphasis on Mexican-American, Chicana/o, and Latinx poetry from throughout Latin America present in Cascadia. The event, which coincides with Día de los Muertos weekend, will honor poets who have passed away and feature an altar constructed by poets and CPL Board Members Gabriella Gutiérrez y Muhs and Lorna Dee Cervantes.
The inclusion of the Floricanto Cascadia highlights the festival's commitment to diversity and cultural exchange. According to CPL board member Lorna Dee Cervantes, the event fulfills a prophecy about the coming together of northern and southern peoples for peace and understanding, emphasizing the role of poetry in accessing and sharing ancestral knowledge for the healing of the Earth.
The festival's workshops offer participants unique opportunities to engage with established poets and writers. Sessions such as 'Poetry as Walking and Mapping' with Jami Macarty and Meredith Quartermain, and 'Writing and Meditative Openness: How They Interact' with Daphne Marlatt and Fred Wah, promise to provide valuable insights into the creative process and the relationship between poetry and place.
The Cascadia Poetry Festival's significance extends beyond the literary world. By bringing together voices from across the bioregion, the event fosters a sense of shared identity and purpose among residents of the Pacific Northwest. It also serves as a platform for discussing important issues such as environmental conservation, cultural preservation, and the role of art in society.
The festival's broad range of sponsors, including government agencies, arts organizations, and private foundations, demonstrates the wide-reaching appeal and importance of this cultural event. Support from entities such as the National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities Washington underscores the festival's role in promoting and preserving regional arts and culture.
As the Cascadia Poetry Festival enters its eighth year, it continues to evolve and expand its reach. The event not only celebrates the rich poetic tradition of the region but also serves as a catalyst for new collaborations and artistic expressions. By bringing together diverse voices and perspectives, the festival plays a crucial role in shaping the cultural landscape of the Cascadia bioregion and beyond.
